Steering mechanism.



No. 844,232; l PATENTED FEB. 12, 1907.

P. BAKER.

STEERNG MEGHANISM. APPLIoA'rIoN FILED JUL^Y1 s, 19o5.

,l .-EJ l d). a ,-9 (on,

INV Nrn/a y UNITED sTArEs *PATENT oEEioE.1

FRANK BAKER,` OE sYRAcUsE, NEW YORK, AssrGNoR'To BAKER GEAR OOM- RANY,v OE HOMER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OE NEW YORK.

l STEERING MECHA'NISM.

To `'all whomA it may concern:

^ Be itkn'own that I, FRANK BAKER, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, haveinventednew and useful `Improvements in Steering. Mechanism, of` which "the followingftaken in connection -with the accompanying drawings`,is a full,

along the side of the body inthe operation ofsteering, so as to afford las muchavailable space in the front of the machine, .or rather iii front of the seat, as possible.

i other sectionto takefup-Wear;

. A further object is to relieve the handlever and hand of the voperator `from excessive ar incidental to the engagement of the wheels with obstructions of the road and to-v render the steering action as easy as possible. A still further object is to-inclose the steering-gears in al substantially dust-proof casev composed of sections', one of which supports and its rotating means, as `the rackl S and one of the gears and is' adjustable upon the Anotherspeciic object is to provide a ple adjusting means for taking up the endthrust wear-for the steering-rod and to utilize this same means to lock theend-thrust' step in its adjusted position.r A

cie construction of diii'erent parts of steeringmechanism will bebroughtgout in the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is' a top plan of my improved steering mechanism` operatively connected to the swinging axle-'stubs `of the steering-wheel. Fig. 2 is an enlarged' vertical sectional view, partly .broken away',

of the essential'features ofmyi'mproved steerlng mechanism.` Fig is fa' top plan of-'th'e lower lgear-casesection seen in Fig... 2, show-l ing one of the vgearsas mounted thereima'nd Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application' 'filed July 18,1905. sein No. 270,202.

' reaching distance fron vof the vehicle. Other objects and uses relating tothe spef Patented 'EenI y12, 1907.

I also showing'the steering-rod in sectionl with its gear keyed thereto. Figs. fl and 5 are sectional views taken, respectively, on line 4 4, Fig. 3, and 5 5, 'Fig 4. y

Inorderto demonstrate the praoticability of my invention, I have shown the front axle A of an automobile as providedwith horizontally-swinging' axle-stubs a, having crankarms a projecting rearwardly therefromand pivotally connected to the ends of a connecting-bar B, one of said crank-arms being connected to one end' of aAdraw-bar C, which eX- vtends transversely and diagonally across the under side of the machine. The other end of this rod is connected in a manner hereinafter described to theparts of the steering mechanism which formA the subject-matter of my` present, invention. v

As best seen 1n Flgs.r 2 to 5, inclusive, this invention consists, essentially, of a steeringpost` .1, 'having its lower end keyed or other- Wise secured toa worm 2, meshing with a worm-gear 3, to ,whichl is secured a depending crank-arme', the latter being connected by knuckle-sections 5 and 6 to the draw-rod C. The upper end of this steering-post 1 is .provided `with-a gear 7, which is keyed or otherwise iixed to said post and meshes with a toothed curved rack 8 upon a hand-lever 9,

said lever being fulcrumed at 10 at apoint below the rack- 8.

As best seen in Fig. l1, the steering-post lever 9, are located in close proximityto andpreferably justoutside of the side ofthe box,

I havethus far described tho general conas D, indicated by dotted lines in said ligure,

struction of my improved steeringmechanism, and it will he observedthat-'the lever is fulcrunied to swing back and' forth substantially parallel with the body of the vehicle,

as indicated-by the dotted` line 1),? andythat "when the lever ls'thus oscillatcd back and forth rotary' motion isim'partedito thciupright steering-post 1 through the medium of the rack S and pinion 7, and simultaneousl \`Y withthis movement the crank-arm 4 is oscillated back and-forth 1n the dlrcotion'of extension of the draw-rod C, through the medium of the IOO l C and oscillating the axle a, to which it is connected, similar oscillatory movement being transmitted to the other axle-stub a. by

means of -the connecting-rodB.

1n order thatthe gears 2 and 3'1nay be protected from the elements, and particularly against the entrance'of dust, l inc-lose them within al special form ot dust-proof case or housing, consisting in this instance of a lower case-section 11 and an upper case-section 12,. which meet slightly below their horizontal center and are clamped together by suitable fastening mea-ns, as bolts 13. This casing or housingvfor the gears 2 and 3 maybe supported in any desired manner upon the body or frame of the machine near one side, and in view of the Jfact that the manner of mounting will depend largely upon the construction ot the machine to which the steering mechanism is applied it is believed to be unnecessary lto enter' into a description of any particular fastening means. l have, however,` shown'the upper section 12 as provided with a projecting flange or web 14, by which the device may be readily attached to .so-me part of the body or frame of the machine. as a hanger or bracket 15. This upper case-section 12 caps over the gears 2 and 3 and is )rovided with an upwardly-projecting ho low boss 16, which receives abrass or bronze bushing 17 and an upwardly-projecting hub 1.3 of' the worin 2, said hub being secured by a key 19 to the post 1 to rotate therewith and is journaled in the brass bushing 17.

The hub of the worm-gear 2 is inserted from the under side into the bushing 17' and hub 1G before the case-sections 11 and -12 are brought together, and in order to reduce the friction incidental to the upward end-thrust ofthe gear .2 and at the same'tnnel to atl' ord a broad bearing to prevent undue cramping of the gear and steering-post providethe up per face ot" the gear 2 with an annular groove or ball-race 21, surrounding the inner end of. the hub 18 for receiving antifriction-balls 22, which bear againstthe under si'de'olc a hardened washer 2-3, the latter being held against rotation by a pin 21, entering an aperture in the under side ot the case-section 12, againstwhich the washer 23 also bears.

By .keying the steering-post 1to the worm 2 the latter constitutes a unitary part of the steering-post. and' in order to prevent lost motion orl undue cndwise liidveilient the lower face of the steering-post, or rather of the worm-gear 2,'is stepped in a verticallyf adjustable bearing 25, which in this instance consists ot a hard metal disk underlying the Iowerfacc of the worm-gear 2 und having a central upwardly-projccting boss 26 ent-eringr a central aperture in the worm-gear 2.

ltigdly secured to or integral with the plate is a depending screw-tlu'eadc'd stem 27 having an angular lower end 28 for re- This screw-threaded stem 27 projects throu h an elongated slot 29 in the bottom of. t e lower case-section 11, and engages inner and tion, suitable Washers 32 being interposed ,etvveen the nuts 3() and 31 and adjacent aces of the bottom of the case-section 11 to bridge across the slot 29.

The upper nut 30 and adjacent Washer 32 are locked against rotation by a pin 33, which enters an aperture inthe bottom of the case-section 1.1 at one sideot the screw 27, the object of this being to permit the vertical adjustment of the step or disk 25, and at the same time allow the lower casefsec axis of the screw 27 andsteering-post 1..

The lower faceof the worm-gear is also ceives antitriction-balls the upper face ot the disk 25.

When it is desired to adjust the plate 25 endwise, or to take up the wear of the endand then rotate lthe screw 27 until the endthrust bearings are suiliciently tight and still capable of revolving easily, whereupon the jam-nut 31 is again tightened to hold the step 26 against endwise or rotary Inova. ment, it being understood that the broad bearings upon which the worm-gear 2 rests prevents undue cramping or torsional strains of the gear 2. -A The gear 3 is keyed to a hub 35 of the crank-arm 4 and ,tits with an easy running tit within the case-sections 11 and 12, so that its opposite end faces bear against annular bearings on the innertaces of the sections 11 and 1,2, which surround the hub 35, saidl end bearings being cmparatively broad and prevent endwise movement oilthe gear 3.. This gear 3 and the hub 35 of the crank-.arm 4 are supported whblly by the lower section 11, which is provided with a pair of opposed `u.j')\\'ar(.llypr jecting ears 37 and 37', receiving between them `the adjacent portion of the upper case-section 12, the ear.37 being provided with a central threaded aperture 3S for receiving the threaded end of a taperscrew 39, which latter extends through a central aperture 40 in the ear 37 and is held l against rotation by a set-screw 4 1. This l tapering screw 39 passes through a similar j tapered aperture in the hub of the crankarm 4 and may be readily adjusted endl wise by a screw-driver or other tool upon l loosening the set-screw 41 for the purpose of taking up any wear incidental to the oscilla-- ceiving a Wrench or other tool, by which the' step or plate 25 may be 'adjusted endwise.

thrust bearing for thefsteering-rod 1, it is simplyI necessary to loosen the jam-nuts 31 outer jam-nuts 30 and 31 ,by-Which the plate or disk 25 is rmly locked to the lower sec tion 11 to be adjusted transversely of the.

provided with an annular recess'or ball-race f '34, which is covered by the disk 25 and red bearing. upon loo Ation or partial rotation ofthe hub 35 upon any wear between thelgears 2 and 3, after' said screw, 'the set-screw 41 being retightene`d after such adjustment. It is now clear that the gear-3, which is keyed to the hub of the crank-arm 4, revolves with said hub Aupon the fixed pivotal pin 89 and that said pivotal p in is supported Wholly upon the ears 37 and 37 of lthe lower case-section 11.

The means forA adjustini the lower case-.

section 1,1 consists of an Ya just-ing-screw 4'2,

which engages vthe threadedaperture 43 ina .lug 44 onthe end' of the lower case-section 11 and has a reduced portion y4.5 -journaled in a lug .46 on'fthe adjacent end of theuppercase-section 12, so that by rotatingithescrew 42 the lower case-section, carrying the gear 3 and crank-arm 4, may be adjusted to take up which the screw is tightened by a jam-nut 47,

it being understood tliatthe` slot 2.9 and similar slots 29" for the .clamping-bolts 13 allows such adjustment.v It is now clearthat the backward and forward movement of the lever 9 rotates the steering-post ll and its worm-gear 2 to 'transmit' rocking motion to the gear 3 and crank-arm 4, by -which the axle-stubs (L are oscillated horizontally onto. the adjacent threaded end o'f therod G and is pi-votallyconnected by a vertical piv-v iotal pin 6 to the adjacent end of `the knuckle-- section 5. l V

It will be seen upon reference to Fig. 5

that the portion of the upper.s ection 12 vof the gear-case inclosinv the gear"3'verha ngs the top and sides of the adjacent end of the hub 35 and crank-arm 4,'forming ladustproof joint withthe ear 37 and thatv the lower'portion of the car 37 has a vertical opening through which the arm 4 projects and which is elongatedtransversely'to allow ample space for the oscillation of .the crankarm 4. e The essential features of my invention Aconsist in connecting the steering-axles to a gearoperated crank-arm, mounting the gear in a dust-'proof case composed of sections, one of which is adjustable transversely of the axis of the steering-post for the purj ose of taking up the wear between tliegears, rotating the steering-wist by means of a lever, rack, and

pinion, the lever being located at'one side of the vehicle-body, connecting the crank-arm to the draw-bar C by a knuckle-joint, next post. i y 5. In a steerlng mechanism, an upright -romounting one of the gears upon the hub-'of a 65 crank-arm upon 'a tapering pivotal Ypin to lpermit taking 'up of the Wear incidental to the, oscillation of said 'arm upon said pin.

Vi/ha'tlclaim--` 4 j 1,. In a steeringmechanism, the combination with steering-axles and a connectingrod between them, of a draw-bar connected to one .of the axles,'an oscillatory crank-arm j connected to the v draw-bar. to reciprocate the-- latter, a gear-case irl/which one endvof the crank-arm is, mounted, a gearseoured tothe crank-ar1n,a worm'm'e'shing with Vthe. gear, bojth worm.' and gear being incased,4 an upright steering-post having'one end journaled .l Ain the case'andsecured to the Worm, a-pnnon on the upper end of the steering-'post and af lever having a toothed rack'engaged with the pinion, wher'ebythe oscillation Iof the lever rocks the 4steering-jiost and oscillates-'the .crank-arm ,through themediurn ofthe gears.

2'. yIn a steering mechanism, the combination ,of intermeshing worm-gears andan inclosing casein which said gears are mounted to rotate, 'acrank-'arm Isecured to lone of the v gears, a steering-post secured to the otherv gear, a hand-lever, a toothed rack on thelever and a pinion on the steering-post meshing with the toothed rack. j 3. In a steering mechanism', the combination with an upright rotary steering-post and means to rotate. it, of a Worm-gear secured -to the posta second gearr meshing with the .Worm-gear, means for adjusting one'of the gears radiallyrelatively to the other gear to .take u wear and a crank-arm. secured to the secon gear and connected vto-,the steering- -aXles 4. In a steering mechanism, the c ombination with steering-axles and meansconnecting. them, of a draw-rod connected to one of the axles, -a gear-case and intermeshing gears` therein, a tapering pivotal pin secured to the gear-case andA adjustable endwise, a crankarm journaledon said pin and connectedto the draw-bar, one of'the gears being vsecured to the hub of the crank-arm, a steering-post f journaled in the gear-case and secured to the other gear, and means to rotate the steeringtary steering-post having a Worm at one end, a4 gear meshing with'the'worm, a gear-case' inclosing the worm and gear and composed of sections, one of which i's adjust-able transversely of the axis of the Steering-post, one of the gears being mounted upon the adjustable case-section, sind means for clamping y i the case-sections together.

- "6. Ina steer-ing 'mechanism for automobiles, the eomhlnatlon of an upright .rotary steering-Yost and operating means therefor, a worm secured to the lower end lof the steer-I ing-post,'and provided with end-thrust bearving-faces, end-thrust bearings at ojiposite being composed of sections, one of which'is and a movable section adjustable relative to ends of the Worm, one of which isl adjustable er 1'd.Wise, a 'Worm-gear- -me'shing with. the

Worm, means to adjust said-gear to take up the Wear, a crank-arm secured to the gear and a draw-rod connected .to the crank-arm and adapted to be connected to the steering..

axles ofthe vehicle. l 7. In steering mechanism for automobiles,

the combination with intermeshing steeringgears and an inclosing case therefor, said case adjustable With'relation to the other and receiving and supporting one of the gears,

8. .In a steering mechanism for automob1les,a gear-case conslstlngof a ixed sectlon fixed section, a pivotal pin mounted on the movable section, a crank-arm having a hub journaled on the-'pin and a gear keyed to said hub and meshing With the Worm, in combination with means for adjusting the movable section .of the case. v

10. AIn a steering mechanism for automobiles,l a gear-case composed of upper and lower sections, one section being adjustable relatively to the other section, a steeringpost ro'tatingly mounted in the up'lrI er section and `provided with a worm, a Worm-gear journaled in the lower case-section` and meshing with said worm, -an end-thrust bearing axially adjustable in the lower case-section and engaging the lower face of Vthe Worm, a'

crank-arm secured to the Worm-gear, and a I taperinf'screwpassed through the crank- -arm and Worm-gear and secured to theloWer case-section.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set'my hand this 11th day of July, 1905.

' FRANK' BAKER.

Witnesses H. lE. CHASE, l\lM.-Norr. v 

